Surname Jurgaitis - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'J'
Jurgaitis: What does the surname Jurgaitis mean?
The last name Jurgaitis is a Lithuanian last name, deriving from the Lithuanian language. Its origin is related to the Jurgaičiai family name which is derived from the word "Jurgas" which means "Georgian", or "peasant". The Jurgaitis family is one of the oldest Lithuanian families; records of them are documented as far back as the 16th century.
The surname is derived from the Lithuanian patronymic root, "-aitis", and it is a toponymic last name indicating that at some point the family lived near the place name "Jurgaičiai". Historically, this was a village near Aukštaitija, within the Raseiniai district. Nowadays, it is part of the Žagarė municipality.
The meaning of the last name Jurgaitis may be a connection to the village of Jurgaičiai, or a connection to the old Lithuanian families who lived there. In addition, due to the origin of the surname, it may also mean “from the Georgian family”.
Jurgaitis is an uncommon surname in the United States and Canada, as most of its bearers live in Lithuania. It is derived from two components, indicating a heritage that goes back to the medieval Lithuanian nobility. The family name also symbolizes the importance of remembering the family’s history and origins.
Order DNA origin analysisJurgaitis: Where does the name Jurgaitis come from?
The last name Jurgaitis is believed to be of Lithuanian descent. It is a rare surname that is most commonly found in Lithuania and neighbouring countries such as Latvia, Poland, and Belarus.
Within Lithuania, the surname is found most prominently in the eastern part of the country, primarily around the cities of Vilnius and Kaunas. There are also numerous recordings of Jurgaitis’s in the larger cities of Šiauliai, Alytus, and Panevėžys.
The Jurgaitis family can also be found in other parts of the world, including the USA, Canada, Australia, and the UK. In the USA, records of the surname can be found mainly around the East Coast states and Midwest states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio. Within Canada, the surname is more commonly found in larger cities such as Toronto and Montreal.
In Australia and the UK, the Jurgaitis surname is present in smaller numbers, but records indicate it is concentrated mainly in Australia’s major cities.
Although less common than some other Lithuanian surnames, the Jurgaitis family continues to be found around the globe, a testament to the diverse migrations of Lithuanians throughout the ages.
Variations of the surname Jurgaitis
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Jurgaitis come from a Lithuanian origin. The variants include Jurgeitis, Jurgelis, Jurgenas, Jurgaitis, Jurgutis and Jurgelaitis. Some surnames that have derived from Jurgaitis include Jurczyk, Jurgemeyer, Jurgens, Jurgiesen, Jurguitis, Juruky and Jurevicius.
Jurgaitis is a Lithuanian patronymic surname, from the personal name Jurge. The suffix -aitis refers to the man in the family line who is the original founder of the surname. The suffix -itis is a patronymic suffix derived from the father's name Jurg (Jūrgas). The meaning of the name is 'son of Jurge'.
Jurgaitis is found most commonly in Lithuania, Latvia and other nearby countries. It is quite rare outside the region. Within the Baltic region, the surnames of Jurgaitis, Jurgeitis, Jurgelis, Jurgenas, Jurgutis and Jurgelaitis can be found quite often in the same areas.
Jurgaitis is believed to have been adopted as a surname in the 1200s and 1300s. The earliest known record of the surname dates back to 1367 in the area of northeastern Poland. The name rapidly spread as Lithuanian immigrants and travelers made their way from the old country. By the 1700s, the surname had spread to the new immigrants who had come to settle in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia and other countries. Today, the surname is spread over several countries, with Lithuania hosting the highest concentration of people bearing this name.
Famous people with the name Jurgaitis
1.Ricardas Jurgaitis: the ninth Prime Minister of the independent Lithuania since 1990 and Minister of the Interior in 1999 2.Paul Jurgaitis: Canadian professional ice hockey player 3.Marius Jurgaitis: Lithuanian bobsledder 4.Laura Jurgaitis: fashioner designer, founder of clothing brand JVJ 5.Vytautas Jurgaitis: Lithuanian retired swimmer 6.Harry Jurgaitis: NCAA Division III Men's basketball player 7.Klemensas Jurgaitis: visual artist 8.Gediminas Jurgaitis: leader of the Lithuania Christian Democratic Party, member of Seimas since 2016 9.Laimutis Jurgaitis: Lithuanian politician and civil rights activist 10.Mantvydas Jurgaitis: Lithuanian contemporary artist